A Butterfly’s Story

At the top, he looks across the garden.  He does not see Sylvie, yet somehow he feels closer to her here among the friendly faces of the flowers.  He feels the wind.  It is a breathing, beating drum of wind from the large blue wings of a butterfly.

It must be nice being a butterfly, says the snail.  Nobody thinks a butterfly is a pest.   But then to his surprise, the butterfly tells him a story…

“I was once a caterpillar, chewing on the leaves

and eating garden peas.

All the grownups were upset. 

They said I was a pest, and yet

Sylvie loved me; kept me safe

and gave me space to grow and change.

The secret home she made for me was by the gnome, among the weeds. 

I can take you there, if you so please

And maybe we’ll find Sylvie.”